Devotional 4-6-09

Readings for the day: Isaiah 42: 1-9, Psalm 36: 5-11, Hebrews 9: 11-15, and John 12: 1-11

An Extravagant Act

Busy, taking care of others, thankful Martha
Cooking and serving a feast.
Family and friends gathered at the table
Enjoying her food;
Celebrating Lazarus;
Giving thanks to Jesus.

Lazarus alive from his stinking grave;
Eyes wide open to the ways of life
And the taste of Martha’s cooking.
Sharing with friends again;
Knowing the precious gift of life abundant.

Listening Mary moves into action.
She offers her thanks and praise to her friend.
With extravagant, costly perfume, she anoints her Master.
Leaning over she lets down her hair
And with it she tenderly wipes those blessed feet.
The aroma of love fills the house.

Miserly, watchful Judas doesn’t understand.
“Why the waste? Remember the poor!
The cost of this perfume could feed hundreds.”
All the while, he lines his pockets.

Jesus, child at his father’s carpentry bench;
A wise youngster with the Temple scholars;
A cousin shares the water of baptism;
A time of testing and temptation in the desert;
An open scroll as he begins to teach;
The joys of a family of followers who sometimes get it – and sometimes don’t;
Friends,
People freed from limitations,
Lazarus eating beside him;
He knows what is coming –
A donkey ride, rejection, pain, death.
All the images come rushing in
As the precious ointment touches not his head,
But his feet.
The feel of her hair, the knowing of her heart,
And he says, “Celebrate her. The poor will be here long after I’m gone.”

I don’t understand the extravagance of Mary.
My practical mind says, “A little bit of perfume will do the anointing well enough.
Sell the rest. There are people who have real needs.”
Yet, the thankful, listening Mary knows something that I don’t always remember;
She knows who is life and light and love and hope and grace.
She responds to all that has been given her with a heart wide open.
What extravagance!

What do I give in response to the extravagant way of Christ?
An hour for worship—maybe some Sunday School time
A church meeting here and there
Sing a song, offer a prayer
My tithe
Some Bible study, a kind word to someone in need
Some grumblings when things don’t go the way I want
A smile, alms offered for the poor
A time of fasting
A word of thanks
Mary gives of her heart, while too often I count the cost.
I want to listen and learn and give as Mary did.

Prayer:
May the extravagance of Mary’s love touch my life in such a way that I will give of my gifts to my sisters and brothers as I give to Christ. Amen.


Dr. Mark Conner
Western District Superintendent

Mission Prayer Focus and Response:
April 6: Upshur Parish House, Buckhannon: Carol Duffield, Director
The parish house operates a food share co-op, a layette program and housing repair. Among their educational ministries are tutoring, nutrition information and other life skills such as budgeting and parenting.
Today we pray for the Upshur Parish House. One of their important ministries is nutrition training. Give ten cents for every low calorie item you have in your cupboard.